I am writing to let Mr. Osborne (Oct. 20 letter) know that you have at least one who also sees a very strong link between George Orwell's "1984" and our contemporary scenario.

As an English teacher (now retired), I enjoyed teaching "1984" and hopefully opening the eyes of my 10th-grade students to the interesting connections between a book written as fiction in 1949 and the realities of the 1980s.

My senior drama class actually performed an excellent dramatization of the book in 1984. It was fun and very interesting.

Doublethink is a very frightening concept -- your example of President Bush and his coining of the word "Islamofascist" is worrisome to say the least. And our present culture of war as a perpetual condition, a war against terror with no end in sight -- is not encouraging!

Your article was excellent, and I enjoyed every word. If you ever feel inclined to discuss your perceptive views, call me.

John Hendee

Pinehurst